We arrive at Can Gio Island located an hour drive away from Ho Chi Minh City. A UNESCO biosphere reserve, the island is also known as Monkey Island, and visitors are greeted by the extraordinary shrubs growing in the coastal wetland area as well as monkeys occupying the dense forest. We are about to enter this unfamiliar jungle.

In Mui Ne, you get to see both the weary, yet serene lives of local people and beautiful views of the Vietnamese tourist destination.

Floor after floor, you walk up the building as if you’re exploring an old alley. In a battered apartment building from the 1960s, cafes, shops, and restaurants have nested, forming an eclectic mix of commercial and residential units. It is called the “Cafe Apartment.”

Galerie Quynh is located in District 1 of Ho Chi Minh City, the heart of the town. Quynh Pham, founder and director of the gallery, has unearthed many experimental-minded artists and contributed to the progress of Vietnamese contemporary art. She has witnessed, first-hand, the dynamic development of the city, and we asked her some of the city's hidden charms. She takes us to places that tourists may otherwise miss out.

Staring at the coffee dripping into a clear glass. Vietnamese coffee made with the country’s own phin filter takes about 4-5 minutes of patient waiting to be enjoyed. When the wait is finally over, you have a glass of coffee full of aroma and flavor. What more would you need?

Here's how you can enjoy the full Vietnamese dining experience, complete with their bubbly and energetic atmosphere: go explore and savor ingredients that produce delicious dishes.